Customer Reviews

Birth Eater

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was never a fan of this band before this album came out. I just stumbled upon them when I was doing some iTunes searches. Man, am I glad I discovered this album.

It's very difficult to explain their musical styling. It's not exactly hardcore, progressive rock, emo, punk, or alternative. It's a beautiful mixture of all five. I love the singers voice. His voice is very elegant, yet still has a level of intensity.

As for the production of the album, nothing to say other than "great". The instruments are all separated clearly from one another, so you can pump it up to full volume and not have one drown out the other.

Now you make ask yourself "why did he give this a 4 star review if the album is so great?" The answer is simple. While this album has tons of great hooks and keeps your attention for the most part, there are some riffs in every song that just make you tap your fingers, waiting for the music to grab your attention again. Something that doesn't happen too often, but happens nonetheless.

Overall, worth the money for the album.

The fact that some downplayed this album because of its lyrical message is vastly disappointing.

Their debut CD The Tide was overrated at best, rehashing the same riffs throughout and recycling a style of heavy music that was innovative seven years ago and done much better by bands like Beloved and Hopesfall.

After losing their vocalist and drummer, everyone thought Oceana were done. I was surprised to see Brennan Taulbee of Comerica replacing Keith Jones' gut-shriek with a more gruff style of screaming, but after putting out a disappointing demo in 'Creations' I started to lose hope altogether.

Enter Birtheater.

This album is a monster. By that I mean it is a lot to take in at once. I came into this album with low expectations, but Oceana absolutely blew me out of the water. Between Taulbee's lyrical imagery and the dirty, grungy sound of the guitars--this album is depressing. Taking a note or two from nu-metal juggernauts like Slipknot and Mudvayne, Oceana took a sound associated with black nail polish and parachute pants and infused it with the new-school metalcore sounds of The Devil Wears Prada and Underoath creating something entirely new.

Bottom line is you need to hear this album.

If anything, this album is a 4 1/2 because of some of the production quality, but the music itself is so astonishing that I couldn't bare to rate it any lower than a 5.

In terms of heavy music, this is the album to beat.

im not gonna lie, when i first listenend to this cd, i was super disappointed cause i was hoping for another The Tide. but, after coming to terms that that had a different sound to them, i really began to listen to the songs and a lot of the songs are quite catchy. a couple songs on this cd i dont really care for so i couldnt give it a 5 star, but the good songs are great songs in my opinion

I'm almost never a fan of hardcore bands and I'm so tired of the young wannabes all over the place. When I first saw Birth Eater in stores I just brushed them off as another screaming blah blah blah band. One day a friend of mine played it and I was absolutely blown away. didn't know who it was and was floored when I found out it was Oceana. I'm glad I hadn't heard them before this album. I'm listening to the old album and I'm not as excited. It's not bad but it's definitely not as pretty. I'm a sucker for pretty. I think I may have just written them off like I do a lot of other bands after just hearing The Tide.

This album is one of the best I've heard this year. This coming from a person that listens to a lot of music.
I'm so glad to have disovered them. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes a good mix of screaming and beautiful, beautiful singing (the vocalist could sing the phonebook and it'd be the most amazing thing in the world), and respectable musicianship.

High Points: The Family Disease, Dead Speaker, The Abortion Plan

It was a great day when I heard Oceana was making a new CD. but even though i was sad that Keith was no longer the front man I kept hope. "Birtheater" is such a step down from "The Tide" it's very clear they needed Keith, I'm OK with some bands growing and slightly changing their sound but this is ridiculous. I shouldnt have to get used to a band's sound, especially after the amazing CD that "The Tide" turned out to be. The new singer (when he screams) sounds as if he's singing the same song through out the entire CD, same rhythm, same pitch. it's crap to say the least. the Old oceana was one of my favorite bands, Ill still listen to "The Tide" but needless to say "Birtheater" will never be played again in my car. atleast Burden of a Day and For Today still knows how to make a CD. Heck even Burden of a Day got a new singer, but they still sound great. RIP Oceana

What can i say about this album? Well this album just drags on and on it feels like one song that just never ends. It just all sounds the same. After 3 songs i was ready to turn it off but i decided to plow on, big mistake. The vocals are sub par at best. The kids screams are drowned out into the music, and the clean vocals sound lazy. The drumming is like the only bright spot of this album and even that isnt that great. I couldnt help but think if they had a real singer how much better this album would be. Although if you look at one song by itself its not so bad but with all 12 songs strung together its too much. This album should of been an ep. I feel they should of cut 6 songs and released it as an ep, then in my opinion it would of been great. It was a wasted 45 minutes i'll never get back.

It is hard to believe that this is the same band that brought us The Tide. With the addition of two brand new members, Brennan Taulbe on lead vocals and Denny Agosto on drums, Oceana are without a doubt abandoning the old and embracing the new. The band has already received harsh criticism from old fans regarding the direction of this album. Birth Eater does not sound as though it was made to garner scene cred. Rather, it was made to showcase the beauty of haunting, melodic, and honest music which is sure to continually pull the listener in.

Birth Eater could be considered a concept album. The entire album revolves around topics associated with loneliness, failure, abortion, sadness and the despair of abandonment. The album sends a powerful message in favor of the value of human life. Brennan doesn't shove his pro-life views down anyone's throat in a preachy way. Rather, he uses gifted lyricism to portray his point through the eyes of the unborn. In essence, he gives the listener a fresh perspective on his views. Without a doubt, every song on this album has a message that is powerful and hits you right in the heart.

Rumors suggest that this album was inspired by Taulbe due to the fact that he himself was almost the victim of an abortion. Whether or not this is true is yet to be discovered. However, one cannot find that concept a difficult one to grasp after listening to this album.

Apart from the outstanding lyrics, the music itself is superb. Oceana create a rich soundscape of layered melodies coupled with fantastic guitar work. The drumming has also notably improved with the addition of Agosto. The vocal execution is seemingly flawless. The mixture of clean vocals vs. screaming on this album couldn't have been done any better; the balance is perfect.

Oceana have undoubtedly set themselves apart as a band by choosing to make this album, both lyrically and musically. While the music isn't in itself innovative or entirely new, it is a progression for a band within the scene who's follow up album simply was not expected to be this great. This album is sure to garner new fans who might have been turned off by The Tide and hopefully interest old fans enough to give it a try.

This album is just annoying.
It all sounds the same.
I just dont like the direction they went with this album.
I loved Oceana years ago with the Tide, i liked that sound.
I agree bands are suppose to progress, they progressed a little too far for my taste into a whole new genre.
Also im not a fan of the pro-life messages.
But once Keith and Oceana parted they just went down hill.
And that new kid just doesnt compare to Keith.
His vocals are a joke.
Birth Eater was just a waste of money.
But thats my opinion.
You can form your own.
I just say listen before you buy.